Combination writing instrument and stamp carrier

ABSTRACT

A COMBINATION WRITING INSTRUMENT AND STAMP CARRIER IN WHICH A BODY MEMBER IS PROVIDED WITH A TUBULAR MEMBER CIRCUMSCRIBED THEREABOUT AND COACTING THEREWITH TO DEFINE A CHAMBER THEREBETWEEN, THIS TUBULAR MEMBER INCLUDES MEANS AXIALLY SLIDABLE RELATIVE TO THE BODY MEMBER BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS TO PERMIT SELECTIVE ACCESS INTO SAID CHAMBER.

Jan. 5, 1971 I R JOHNSON 1 3,552,869

COMBINATION WRITING INSTRUMENT AND STAMP CARRIER Filed Oct. 14, 1968 STA/VLE Y R JOHNSON, VENTOR United States Patent ice 3,552,869 COMBINATION WRITING INSTRUMENT AND STAMP CARRIER Stanley R. Johnson, 1019 W. Cossitt Ave., La Grange, Ill. 60525 Filed Oct. 14, 1968, Ser. No. 767,074 Int. Cl. B43k 29/00 US. Cl. 401-195 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination writing instrument and stamp carrier in which a body member is provided with a tubular member circumscribed thereabout and coacting therewith to define a chamber therebetween, this tubular member includes means axially slidable relative to the body member between first and second positions to permit selective access into said chamber.

The present invention relates to stamp containers and more particularly to writing instruments having stamp containers integrally formed in combination therewith whereby stamps may be carried on the person in a wellprotected condition 'while being readily accessible when one or more are needed.

Since the advent of postage stamp machines which usually require the stamp purchaser to purchase a number of stamps in excess of his immediate requirements to avoid designing such machines with the expensive and complicated mechanisms for dispensing exact change, man has been confronted with the problem of what to do with the extra stamps.

Prior practices have included putting the stamps into a wallet or pocket or other container where the stamps frequently become soiled, or the mucilage becomes spoiled or they are lost. None of the improvisations heretofore practiced have been satisfactory and accordingly a great need exits for means capable of carrying extra stamps in a manner which is both convenient and safe and which will protect the stamps from damage.

The present invention is based on my design of a combination writing instrument and stamp carrier which overcomes the problem of what to do with extra stamps and which will permit them to be carried in a convenient, safe and protected condition until such time as they are needed.

Accordingly, it is a prime object of the present invention to provide a novel combination writing implement and stamp carrier which permits the user to safely and conveniently protect stamps on his person until such time as they may be needed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel stamp carrier which can be carried by the user without further burdening his pockets.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel stamp carrier in combination with a writing instrument which is of a design which incorporated readily into the manufacture of such writing instruments without impairing either their writing function or their convenience.

These and still further objects as shall hereinafter appear are readily fulfilled by the present invention in a totally unexpected and beneficial manner as will be readily discerned from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof, especially when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a combination writing implement and stamp carrier embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1, enlarged for clarity of detail;

3,552,869 Patented Jan. 5, 1971 FIG. 3 is a side elevation of another combination writing implement and stamp carrier embodying the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of a further variant of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B--B of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing, in which like numerals identify like parts throughout the several views, my novel combination of writing implement and stamp carrier is identified by the general character 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, my device 10 comprises a body member 12 having a tubular member 14 circumscribed thereabout and coacting with body member 12 to define therewith an enclosed chamber 16. Body member 12 is preferably provided by a writing implement such, for example, as a ball point pen although it is understood that a mechanical pencil, a graphite pencil, a mechanical crayon, an advancing eraser, or any like implement used in writing and normally carried on ones person can be included within the definition of writing implement without departing from the essence of this invention.

The ball point pen, therefore, will be herein referred to to typify my novel device and serve as a point of reference to writing implements.

In the specific embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 6 a body member 12 comprising a hollow barrel 21 and a cap 22 has a suitable writing mechanism 23 disposed therein and actuatable by an actuator 24 to cause the protrusion of cap 22.

Again, as specifically shown in FIG. 1, cap 22 carries a pocket clip 27 although it is understood that a snap-on pocket clip may also be used if desired. An annular member 28 is secured to and made integral with barrel 21 for a purpose to be later defined.

Tubular member 14, as described, is disposed in circumscription about body member 12 and may be formed of any suitable material. A clear thermosetting plastic may be employed with satisfaction.

Tubular member 14 is provided with a diameter at the upper end 31 thereof which is only slightly larger than the diameter of cap 22 and obtains a snug but slideable fit therewith. The lower end 32 of member 14 may constitute an extension of the intermediate portion 33 thereof and as such will have a diameter larger than that of barrel 2.1 in an amount to provide chamber 16 with any desired depth.

End 32 of member 14 will, when member 14 is in its lowermost position, engage annular member 28 to close chamber 16.

Chamber 16, as thus defined by body member 12 and tubular member 14, is thus well suited for containing one or more postage stamps 41.

The radial depth of chamber 16 is defined by the spatial relationship between member 14 and the diameter of the adjacent portion 42 of barrel 21. If desired, the usual writing implement contains sufficient bulk at portion 42 to allow a portion of the exterior to be cut away whereby the depth of chamber 16 can be enlarged, if desired. If a larger chamber .16 is not desired, the cutting of portion 42 will permit end 32 of member 14 to be reduced in diameter until it snugly engages barrel 21 adjacent portion 42 on the annular member 28 defined upon barrel 21.

As shown in FIG. 2, stamps 41 are securely held between portion 42 of the body member 12 and tubular member 14 in the chamber 16 defined thereby whereupon stamps 41 are in protected relationship relative to both the environs and to the mechanism 23 and writing medium 25 disposed within barrel 21.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, an alternative embodiment of my device is shown which comprises a body member 12 circumscribed by a tubular member 14 which coacts therewith to define stamp containing chamber 16 in which can be carried one or more postage stamps 41.

The embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 is especially designed for use with a writing implement having a hollow barrel 21 to which is threaded a cap 22 having affixed thereto a pocket clip 27A of the type which dOes not permit tubular member 14 sufiicient axial slidability relative to barrel 21 to completely open chamber 16 and permit the withdrawal of needed stamps 41 therefrom. When such a writing implement is encountered, a design which utilizes the milling of portion 42 from barrel 21 to provide portion 42 with a reduced diameter is employed, that is, the upper portion of barrel 21 is turned down so that the outside diameter of cylindrical portion 42 is less than the corresponding dimension of the unmilled barrel.

In constructing this embodiment, tubular member 14 engages barrel 21 at surface 43 to prevent the egress of stamps 4.1 therefrom, surface 43 being the radial annulus defined by turning down portion 42.

To open chamber 16 to place stamps 41 therein or remove stamps therefrom, tubular member 14 is moved axially relative to the barrel 21 by unscrewing cap 22 therefrom and removing the cap 22 and the member 44 as a unit off of the barrel 21 and the writing mechanism 23 protruding therefrom until member 14 opens what had been closed chamber 16 a sufficient amount to permit the removal of the stored stamps 41 therefrom. The open position is illustrated with exploded exaggeration in FIG. 4.

When the desired operation relative to the stamps has been performed, tubular member 14 is axially slid down the barrel 21 until its lower end 32 engages surface 43 and cap 22 is again threaded onto the barrel 21 to complete the body member .12 and to restore the closed substantially sealed stamp chamber 16 as shown in FIG. 3.

Still another embodiment for accomplishing the novel result of my invention is illustrated in FIG. 5.

In this embodiment, my combination writing implement and stamp carrier 10 comprises a body member 12, represented by cap 22, and a circumscribing member 13 which member is elongated at one side 37 thereof to define stamp containing chamber 16. The member 13 which circumscribes body member 12 thus serves to carry the chamber 16, defined by and in portion 37, upon the writing implement in papoose fashion. Chamber 16, as shown, comprises an elongated compartment open at its upper end through which a stamp 41 may be inserted or withdrawn.

.Side 37 is provided with an axially extending slot 38 through which protrudes lift means 39 which raises stamps 41 contained therein from an out-of-reach to a reachable position (shown in FIG.

In operation, the user needing stamps 41 contained in the chamber 16, obtains the axial movement of tubular member 14 relative to body member 12, as in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4, to open chamber 16 and withdraws the needed stamps. By reversing the operation, the chamber 16 is closed. To allow the storage of extra stamps 41, in the chamber, the opening and closing of chamber 16 is effected in the same manner except that when chamber 16 is open, stamps are placed in the chamber instead of being withdrawn therefrom.

A similar operation is employed to remove stamps from the embodiment of FIG. 5 Where lift means 39 is moved in slot 38 axially of the body member 12 to push the stamps into a position from which they can be manually removed therefrom with great case.

To place extra stamps into chamber .16 of FIG. 5, lift means 39 is returned in slot 38 to its lowermost position and the individual stamps, are placed into the chamber and pushed down thereinto.

Of course, while the setting of the invention has been described with respect to stamps which are extras purchased from a stamp machine, it is quite apparent that my device provides a money-saving to those who would carry stamps from home or other supply source and avoid the high commission charged by those who operate stamp machines.

From the foregoing, it becomes apparent that a novel combination writing implement and stamp carrier has been herein described and illustrated which fulfills all of the aforestated objectives in a remarkably unexpected fashion. It is, of course, understood that such modifications, alterations and adaptations as may readily occur to the artisan when confronted with this disclosure, are intended to be included within the spirit of the invention, especially as it is defined by the scope of the claim appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. A combination writing instrument and stamp carrier comprising: a body member having a barrel portion having two end portions and a center portion, said center portion being disposed between said end portions and having a diameter of dimension relative to said end portion to define a radially extending annular surface between each of said end portions and said center portion, said annular surfaces respectively constituting a first and a second annular abutment, said barrel portion containing a writing instrument; a tubular member circumscribing said barrel portion and coacting with said annular abutments to define around said barrel portion an annular enclosed chamber adapted to contain a stamp therewithin, said tubular member being axially slideable on and relative to said body member between a first and second position to open and close said chamber for selected access thereto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,322,966 11/1919 Sinclair 401--52X 1,431,722 10/1922 Calvento 401-52X 1,476,582 12/1923 Beadlcs 40l-195 1,497,593 6/1924 Rope 401-l 2,005,110 6/1935 Ritzert 40152X 2,301,364 11/1942 Bruck et al. 401-52 2,601,650 6/1952 Walker et al. 401-52X LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner 

